Two of the largest Asian religions – Hinduism and Buddhism – are centered on many similar ideas, but there are also key differences, such as the concepts of duty and attachment. One of the most important Hindu texts is the Bhagavad Gita, which is the story of Arjuna, a warrior who doesn’t want to fight, and who is convinced by Krishna, the avatar of Vishnu, to fight anyway and fulfill his dharma. One of the main texts in Buddhism is the Dhammapada, which describes in verse many of the main concepts of the religion. If the author of Dhammapada were giving Arjuna advice instead of Krishna, the outcome would be nearly the opposite. In Hinduism, the concept of dharma is defined by caste, while Buddhism is more about the idea of reaching enlightenment
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In the chapter, it is explicitly explained how violence is something Buddhists should avoid at all costs, even violent words and provoking others’ violent actions. But the kind of violence Krishna wants Arjuna to use is physical violence against an opposing army. In agreement with Arjuna’s opinion in the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita, the author of the Dhammapada would say “all tremble at violence; life is dear for all. Seeing others as being like yourself, do not kill or cause others to kill” (Fronsdal, 35). If Arjuna were to kill those people he recognized as “teachers, fathers and sons; grandsons, grandfathers, wives’ brothers; mothers’ brothers and fathers of wives” (Mascaro, 6), he would be going against the teachings of the Buddha. Since he sees the other warriors as having attachments like he does, even though they’re part of an opposing army, he doesn’t want to kill them. The author of the Dhammapada would agree with him, adding that while it may not matter so much what these people’s relations are, Arjuna just shouldn’t have to kill them to reach enlightenment. In fact, this would cause him a lot of suffering due to bad karma (and possibly post-traumatic stress disorder). Thus, if he does kill them, he needs to let go of his attachments and release his suffering, which is a main goal for
In the chapter, it is explicitly explained how violence is something Buddhists should avoid at all costs, even violent words and provoking others’ violent actions. But the kind of violence Krishna wants Arjuna to use is physical violence against an opposing army. In agreement with Arjuna’s opinion in the beginning of the Bhagavad Gita, the author of the Dhammapada would say “all tremble at violence; life is dear for all. Seeing others as being like yourself, do not kill or cause others to kill” (Fronsdal, 35). If Arjuna were to kill those people he recognized as “teachers, fathers and sons; grandsons, grandfathers, wives’ brothers; mothers’ brothers and fathers of wives” (Mascaro, 6), he would be going against the teachings of the Buddha. Since he sees the other warriors as having attachments like he does, even though they’re part of an opposing army, he doesn’t want to kill them. The author of the Dhammapada would agree with him, adding that while it may not matter so much what these people’s relations are, Arjuna just shouldn’t have to kill them to reach enlightenment. In fact, this would cause him a lot of suffering due to bad karma (and possibly post-traumatic stress disorder). Thus, if he does kill them, he needs to let go of his attachments and release his suffering, which is a main goal for